ATLAS OF SKIN DISEASES

The term pigmented purpuric dermatoses includes a large group of pigmented and hemorrhagic skin changes, which are secondary to increased capillary permeability and hemosiderin deposits in the surface tissues. These pigmented skin elements do not change appearance during diascopy, which is the key diagnostic feature of purpura. In the history of dermatology various names/diagnoses (such as Schamberg disease, Majocchi disease (Purpura annularis telangiectodes) , lichen aureus, itching purpura, Doucas and Kapetanakis purpura,   pigmented purpuric lichenoid dermatosis of Gougerot and Blum ) were used to describe identical pathological processes. I will avoid referring to these diagnoses to prevent confusion. Clinical manifestations of purpura and histopatologic features vary depending on the individual response of affected tissue.